Kurse (comics)

Kurse is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/artist Walter Simonson, the Algrim version of Kurse first appears as the Dark Elf Algrim the Strong in Thor #347 (Sep. 1984). He is later transformed into Kurse in Secret Wars II #4 (Oct. 1985).

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje portrayed the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Thor: The Dark World (2013).

Publication history
The Dark Elf Algrim the Strong was created by Walter Simonson and first appeared in Thor #347 (Sep. 1984). He is introduced initially as an ally to Malekith, tasked with guarding the kidnapped Lorelei. The character was later healed and transformed into Kurse in Secret Wars II #4 (Oct. 1985) by the Beyonder.

In 2015's Mighty Thor issue #14 by Jason Aaron and Steve Epting, the mantle and the powers of "Kurse" were passed on to a new host, a dark elf called Lady Waziria. She reappeared in 2019's War of the Realms as a subordinate of Malekith.

Algrim
Kurse was originally the most powerful of a race of Dark Elves and was known as Algrim the Strong. He is coerced by the Dark Elf ruler Malekith the Accursed to fight the Asgardian God of Thunder and superhero, Thor. Malekith, however, betrays Algrim while he is fighting Thor, and in a bid to destroy the Thunder God orders that a pitfall beneath the two be opened. Thor saves himself courtesy of his mystical hammer Mjolnir, while Algrim falls into lava. Algrim's enchanted armor saves his life, but he is still critically injured and develops amnesia from the shock.

Algrim is completely amnesic, except for his obsessive desire to gain revenge upon Thor. Algrim is later healed by the cosmic entity the Beyonder, who transforms him into the much more powerful being called Kurse, who is apparently twice as strong as Thor. The Beyonder transports Kurse to Earth to battle Thor, however Kurse mistakes Thor's ally Beta Ray Bill for Thor and battles him. Kurse then battles the juvenile superhero team, Power Pack. Thor dons his magical belt of strength to double his strength and confronts Kurse, however the Beyonder doubles Kurse's strength as well.

Despite overpowering Thor, Kurse is made to realize that it was Malekith, not Thor, who is to blame for his suffering. The Beyonder then transports Kurse to Hel at Thor's suggestion, to frustrate Hela, the Goddess of Death. Kurse confronts and severely beats Loki, who had been disguised as Malekith. Drawing off, he leaves Loki injured and finds what he thinks is Balder the Brave, surrounded by legions of Asgardians. He barrels through them and slays his target, who turns out to be the true Malekith. After repenting, he is granted citizenship among the Asgardians.

He is designated as the guardian of the children of Asgard after he helped protect Volstagg's daughter and adopted sons during a plague, and loyally serves Asgard until the time of Ragnarok. At the time of Ragnarok, all the Asgardians apparently perish, with the exception of Thor.

Kurse is later captured by Malekith, who strips him of the armor. Algrim is sent to Nastrond Prison where he is forced to serve out the rest of the sentence of Waziria, a former member of the League of Realms. Malekith forces Waziria to don the armor, transforming her into the new Kurse. Before he is imprisoned, Algrim encourages his successor to kill herself the first chance she gets.

Waziria
Waziria is a Dark Elf witch of the Dove Gut Tribe in Svartalfheim.

When Malekith escaped from his imprisonment and attacked his village, he cut off Waziria's left arm when using her as a hostage when Thor and his fellow Asgardians arrived. After recuperating, Waziria joined up with the League of Realms to hunt down Malekith.

When the League of Realms split, only Waziria remained with Thor. During a meeting with the Dark Elf ruling council called the Council of the Unhallowed, Thor accused Waziria of being the traitor and that she gave Malekith the information to stay one step ahead of him, only for both to learn that it was Thor himself who had been bugged. Malekith then makes himself known. Before Malekith can kill Thor, the League of Realms showed up to help fight Malekith. The Council of the Unhallowed made the decision to side with Malekith. When the Congress of the Worlds planned to have Malekith rule Svartalfheim after he is done with his life sentence in Nastrond Prison, Malekith made Waziria his proxy while Malekith named Scumtongue his senator for the Congress of the Worlds.

After stripping Algrim of his armor, Malekith transformed Waziria into the new Kurse while Algrim takes Waziria's place in Nastrond Prison.

During the "War of the Realms" storyline, Kurse was present with Malekith as he begins his invasion on Midgard. She and Enchantress fight She-Hulk and Ghost Rider until Jane Foster slams Skidbladnir into Enchantress. After the Queen of Angels has no knowledge on why her soldier Fernande sided with Spider-Man and the League of Realms, Malekith states that he is leaving Kurse to assist her. In London, Volstagg controls the Destroyer Armor to defeat Kurse.

Powers and abilities
Kurse possesses a number of superhuman attributes because he is a dark elf and has been mystically augmented. Kurse's main advantage is his strength - which originally was a close match to Thor's, but since then his strength was quadrupled in comparison to Thor's. He also has enchanted armor that has been fused to his skin by the Beyonder. Kurse is now almost totally invulnerable, except to iron, like all dark elves. Kurse can also track his opponents over thousands of miles and can see past illusions and disguises. His enchanted armor is living and sentient and allows Kurse to see everything around him.

Waziria can perform magic spells. She also possesses Algrim's abilities when she dons the Kurse armor.

Film

 * Algrim appears in Thor: Tales of Asgard, voiced by Ron Halder. This version was forced to ally with Surtur after Frost Giants devastated Svartalfheim and Odin refused to help the Dark Elves. After Odin defeated Surtur, he brings Algrim to his realm to serve the Asgardians as punishment. In the present, Algrim steals Surtur's sword and attempts to take revenge on Asgard, only to be killed by Loki.
 * Algrim appears in Thor: The Dark World, portrayed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. This version is one of Malekith's Kursed soldiers, which greatly increases his strength and durability. During a battle with Thor in Svartálfaheim, Algrim is killed by Loki with a Dark Elf grenade.

Video games

 * Kurse appears as a miniboss in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced by Tom Kane.
 * Kurse appears as a boss in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
 * Kurse appears in Marvel Heroes.
 * Kurse appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Andrew Kishino.
 * Kurse appears in the iOS tie-in game Thor: The Dark World, voiced by Dennis Carnegie.